Being Scared Stiff

Posted on Sat Mar 7th, 2020 @ 2:37am by Fleet Captain Torilla Yamaguchi & Saki Yamaguchi-Cullen

Mission: Mission 73: Near Misses and Close Encounters
Location: Various Locations - USS Courageous
Timeline: 2100Hrs - March 22nd, 2392

Torilla Yamaguchi honestly had no issues with her granddaughter being in the room while she changed out of her uniform as she understood that Saki needed special attention at times, as she pulled her new shirt on over her underclothes, she regarded her granddaughter in the large mirror of her dresser. "So... Saki, you wanna tell me about today?" Torilla inquired, as a gentle smile appeared on her face.

As expected, Saki simply blinked as she regarded her grandmother with a confused look in her eye. "Huh... Oh... Well... Not much happened, I got homework..." as her body language was saying something far more serious. Saki had tears in her eyes.

Torilla regarded her in silence as she pulled on a pair of jeans over her socks and underwear that she was wearing. "Saki... Stop worrying about your mom... I said to her that I'd look after you and nobody is going to take you away from me... I have the time to handle your concerns, she doesn't... Though I will confess... Why your mother does things the way she does is a great mystery to me at times.."

"I'llbegood. I'llbegood." Saki's desperation suddenly came out with roaring force as the small child hopped off of the bed and into her grandmothers arms. "I don'twannabetakenaway!" the young child pleaded as she tried not to cry and failed.

"I know sweetie... but its not up to me, or your mother... Now she is in a lot of trouble with various people..." Torilla explained as she gently held her granddaughter in her arms like she weighed nothing whatsoever. "It'll be alright but... You know you're mother is in some very serious trouble... Apparently she neglects you and your siblings.." Torilla explained.

"I'll be good Grandma Torilla..." Saki was in tears as she whimpered.

"I know... You have been very well behaved since you came here... But that's because you know that I have the extra time you require..." Torilla gently set her granddaughter down on the bed before she finished donning her clothing. "Tell me something Saki... Why do you provoke your mom the way you do?"

Saki paused. "Well... I'm..." she hesitated as Torilla regarded her with a gentle but reproving look. "Let me guess before you attempt to explain something you've never thought about... Because nobody ever asked you... did they?." Torilla said evenly. "All you're life, you've always had your mom around.. You 'KNEW' that whenever something goes wrong. Rachael was always at arms length and she never let you out of her sight, for years it was always the two of you and nobody else... Well assides from Siaxx and Phoenix but neither of them really count.. "

Saki regarded her grandmother in silence as the older woman outlined her explanation. "You and your mom were always together, whenever you had issues, she was always there... but since you came here, her old habits came out and now she's never around... and you don't know what to make of this." Yamaguchi smiled before she continued. "As a result, you act out and provoke your mother to get her attention and have things go back to the way they were for you while you were growing up... How am I doing so far?" Torilla inquired, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

Saki stared at her grandmother's, open-mouthed. "What... How could you know that.." as she nodded her head, yes.

"Because... I understand you... How you think and how you operate is no mystery to me.." Torilla explained. "You do have work to do Saki... I am not your mom and I will not replace your mom but you are my responsibility and yet... You have been better behaved but that's because I have the time to spend with you. I only have the two dogs... Noble Team and the twins are off with your grandfather...and since we're orbiting a planet. I'm only on watch for about four hours... While you are at school... So I can drop you off and then come collect you."

Saki listened to her grandmother explain all of this. "Your mom feels she's years behind where she should have been... That much I know and can guess.."

"But why does she needs to work so much... I mean she's never around... Neither is Dad."

"I know." Torilla paused. "Very well... I'll babysit the three of you, when you finish school, I'll collect you. Sarah and Daniel until your mom or dad is available to come to collect you, this way you three have some quality time with someone to watch over you... because I'll bet Sarah struggles with it and she's become a mom to Daniel as you're mom and dad are both emotionally unavailable... Your dad I can understand but this shit is gonna end... and it ends tomorrow.." Torilla explained. "I will have events lined up for you three to do and to enjoy.. Because you are too young to deal with these issues.. Sarah also is too young too..." Torilla regarded Saki as she spoke. "However. you need to learn how to behave young lady and while you are improving. You still got a lot of work to do..."

"Okay.." Saki agreed. "But... I'm scared... they will take me away from mom.." the small child truly sounded terrified and Torilla could also feel her emotions too, the small child before her was truly terrified about her situation.

"Thats not going to happen as your mother has made arrangements for you. Sarah and Daniel were never really her issue to deal with anyway... Thats for Ennis to deal with.." Torilla explained as she gently rubbed Saki's shoulders with her hands. "It'll be okay... I hope."